Two Illinois Grease Thieves Slip Into Federal Custody After Schererville Used Cooking Oil Theft
Two Illinois men, Xu Zilong, 50, and Wu Chenguin, 51, have been charged after Schererville police reported they were caught siphoning waste cooking oil behind Social 219 Bar & Grill on Cline Avenue during the early morning hours of November 13, 2025.
According to the probable cause affidavits, at approximately 12:05 a.m., an officer observed a large white box truck traveling westbound on U.S. Highway 30 near Hamlin Street. Around 12:20 a.m., dispatch advised that two males were pumping waste cooking oil behind Social 219 Bar & Grill in the 2300 block of Cline Avenue, and the truck fled westbound on U.S. 30.
A responding officer located the white box truck near U.S. 30 and U.S. 41, where it was seen driving behind several restaurants near dumpster areas most commonly where waste cooking oil is stored. When the truck reentered westbound U.S. 30, officers conducted a traffic stop.
Police reported that the driver matched the same man stopped on September 5, 2025, during an earlier oil-theft investigation involving a siphon tank system. The driver was identified as Xu Zilong. A second male passenger, identified through an Illinois ID as Wu Chenguin, was located on the passenger side. Officers used a translation application to communicate and noted that Chenguin appeared visually nervous and trembled when questioned about whether they had permission to collect the cooking oil.
Officers observed brown liquid dripping from the rear of the truck. When the cargo door was opened, police found a 1,600-gallon bulk tank, a gasoline-powered pump, and hoses used to siphon waste cooking oil. Tank markings indicated approximately 300 gallons of liquid inside. A search of the cab revealed no documentation, invoices, or authorization for removing oil from the business.
Police contacted the owner of Social 219 Bar & Grill, who stated his contracted service had reported the waste-oil tanks were repeatedly low or empty upon arrival over the past several months. At approximately 12:20 a.m., he heard a loud engine noise and found a white box truck at his oil container with two males beside it. When he stepped outside, both males fled toward the truck and drove off, prompting him to call 911.
Both Xu and Wu were taken into custody and transported to the Lake County Jail. While awaiting booking, Xu reportedly told an officer he “had not done this in awhile” and recognized the officer from the September stop. Homeland Security later informed police that both men would have federal retainer holds placed on them.
Charges filed December 5,2025 in Lake County case:
Against Xu Zilong
• Assisting a Criminal – F6 Felony
• Theft ($750–$50,000) – F6 Felony
• Operating a Commercial Vehicle Without a CDL – Infraction
• Operating a Motor Vehicle in Violation of a Restricted License – Infraction
• Leaky Load — Vehicle Contents Dripping/Leaking – Infraction
Against Wu Chenguin
• Assisting a Criminal – F6 Felony
• Theft ($750–$50,000) – F6 Felony
Separate Porter County Case July 2025 (Brief)
In another separate case filed July 8, 2025, the owner of Big Time Burgers and Brew reported seeing Xu Zilong at approximately 1:08 a.m. on July 7, 2025, pumping used cooking oil out of the restaurant’s oil dumpster using “some form of pump.”
Xu Zilong was charged with:
• Theft – A Misdemeanor
A summons was also issued for:
• Driving a Commercial Vehicle Without a CDL – Infraction
